Posts Tagged With: jivamukti

First…Thank you Radiohead for your entire catalogue of music, and for the title of this blog post 😀

I have a slight addiction to working on jigsaw puzzles. Really CHALLENGING jigsaw puzzles – usually about 3000 pieces, but they have to be minimum 1500. Working on jigsaw puzzles allows my brain to work in a different, meditative, and creative way. I often come up with dharma talks or sequencing while puzzling! The one I finished this morning was 2000 pieces, but is of Monet’s Garden (pictured below), so it might as well have been 5000 pieces. Side note – Barnes & Noble carries a 5000 piece Ravensburger, my favorite brand (yes I have a favorite brand of puzzle), but it is like $85. I am obsessed, but not crazy – I refuse to spend this on a puzzle!

When I am working on a puzzle, and have been looking for a specific piece for a long time without success, I’ll start looking for something completely different. And then, all of a sudden I find what I was looking for in the first place, and it is usually, literally, right under my nose. Or, if I have been sitting in front of it for a while without finding any piece at all, I walk away and do something else. Then when I come back, I often find about 20 pieces immediately.

One of my teachers, Ruth, says that one of the results of a yoga practice is that your vision changes, and when you look at anything you are able to see the whole picture – the past, the present, and the future. You are able to see where things have come from and where they are going.

In our āsana practice, over time, you might realize that the poses we come into all link to each other, just like a puzzle, or that they strategically build up to a more challenging pose later on, the bigger picture. Or maybe you one day realize that all of the poses are exactly the same, just take on a different form! (The truly bigger picture!)

When you are faced with a challenging situation in your life, whether it is personal, or with another person, or more national or global, you may start to see how all of the actions, or karmas, you have taken so far have led up to this point, and how whatever you are about to put into the word as a reaction to this situation will lead to other future karmas. So how you act will affect not only you, and the immediate person/situation in front of you, but the greater world as well. Maybe if you start to look at the situation from a different perspective, from the other person’s point of view, or walk away for a bit and come back, you’ll get what you wanted in the first place, and all of the puzzle pieces fall into place…

Maybe your vision expands so much that, as Ruth says, when you are in the grocery store and you see the non-biodegradable plastic bags that are there for you to put fruit and vegetables in, you can see that they end up buried in the Earth, or in our oceans, and that this causes the Earth and oceans to become sick, and then all of the living begins on the planet become sick. Or when you look at paper plates, cups, napkins, etc., you can picture the trees they came from, and how when we cut down all those trees, it leads to global warming, because there are less trees to take in the carbon dioxide we are emitting, which they then turn back into oxygen, for us to breath, and also to go back into the atmosphere creating rain, which in turn allows everything to grow again. A lovely mandala of life.

The mysteries of the universe often feel like one big jigsaw puzzle, but if we pause for a moment and take it piece by piece, and in the process set an example for others to follow, then slowly, maybe over many lifetimes, the jigsaw will fall into place.

I had the humbling honor of writing the Focus of the Month for the Jivamukti Yoga School for the month of May. You can read it on the Jivamukti website, or right here! You can also find my newest playlist (and all my playlists) on Spotify

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD

Focus Of The Month – May, 2017

yad-yad ācarati śreṣṭhas / tad-tadevetaro janaḥ / sa yat pramāṇaḿ kurute / lokas-tad-anuvartate
A great person leads by example, setting standards that are followed by others all over the world.

Bhagavad Gita III.21

The streets of Calcutta were dangerous and dirty. Thousands were infected with leprosy, cholera, and other contagious diseases. At overcrowded hospitals, nurses were forced to turn away dying patients onto the cockroach-infested streets. A group of activists, led by Mother Teresa, risked their own health to treat the sick and poor, even though most could not be saved. Why would Mother Teresa dedicate her life to working in the most unsettling conditions for people who did not have anything to give in return? She responded by saying, “I see the divine in every human being. When I wash a leper’s wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?”

The great leaders of the world – Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, the Dalai Lama, Malala Yousafzai – all share certain characteristics. They are clear communicators as well as great listeners. They have a firm and steady grounding that reflects an unwavering commitment to their cause. They inspire and empower. They are also confident, honest, and discerning. There is another quality each great leader has, that perhaps outshines all the others – humility.

Business philosopher Jim Rohn says, “Humility is almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. Humility is the grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we are part of the stars.” In other words, humility is seeing yourself in others; it is seeing all life as holy.

The word humility is derived from the Latin humilis, which is translated as “grounded” or “from the Earth.” The Chandogya Upanishad teaches tat twam asi or “you are that.” This mahavakya, or great saying, relates to the idea that everything is Brahman, that the supreme Self and the individual self are one and the same. If you are Brahman, and the tree is Brahman, then you and the tree are one. The yogi has the humility to understand they are the same as all that exists on Earth. Its natural resources support life, so it is our responsibility to support the Earth just as much.

According to Vedic scripture, we are currently living in the Kali Yuga – an era of conflict and struggle – and great leaders are especially needed. If we want to see peace and happiness in the world, then we must live the kind of life we want to see. There was a point in time when humanity lived in harmony with nature. We only took from the Earth what was necessary to survive. Now, each year, humans kill billions of animals and destroy millions of acres of land. We are fighting wars over natural resources and the Earth can no longer sustain us. The business of taking all the earthly resources we want was once thought of as progress. We have instead regressed, causing billions of humans, animals, and plants unhappiness.

A great yogi offers strength to others so that they too can learn to be steady and joyful. Humility allows the yogi to be the change they want to see in the world. We can consider progressing in a different way, one that would help us rediscover our higher consciousness and realize that we are the same as the stars and shine just as bright. We can also lead by example, setting standards that are followed by others all over the world.

April Dechagas

Teaching Tips:

The asana practice is an expression of humility. For example, when practicing Hanumānāsana, we take on the qualities of the great leader Hanuman. In his unwavering devotion to Lord Rama, he is the epitome of virtue, strength, power, humility and courage.

Standing asanas – and warrior asanas in particular – convey the qualities of a great leader: having a firm and steady grounding, a steady gaze, and unwavering intention.

Teach alignment of tadāsana/samastithi. Explain that the alignment of this āsana exists within all the others. The mountain, or Earth, is also the connection between all the other forms we take on: humans (warriors, sages, saints), animals (dogs, frogs, monkeys, etc), insects (locusts), plants (trees, mountains), and even inanimate objects that come from materials from the earth (plows, boats, compasses).

Have students hold asanas for longer than five breaths while maintaining ujjayi pranayama with peace and humility.

Deepen your yoga practice surrounded by the beautiful tropical paradise that is Belize. Ak’Bol Yoga Retreat Center and Eco Resort is on the tropical island of Ambergris Caye, just outside the peaceful fishing village of San Pedro Town. Yoga classes take place in a studio with a spectacular 360-degree view of the water, filled with the sounds of tropical birds, unspoiled beaches and jungles, and home to the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world.

Your retreat package includes:

7 nights accommodations

Special Full Moon welcome dinner

3 vegetarian meals/day (minus one night off to explore San Pedro Town)

Unlimited water/juices/teas

2 yoga classes/day with April (mats and props included)

Day trip to Lamanai Jungle River and Mayan Ruins

1 Snorkle Trip to Hol Chan National Reserve

Evening Drum Circle

Unlimited use of beaches/pools/pier/retreat grounds

Not included:

Airfare to Belize City and Airport transfer to Ak’Bol

$40US Cash Departure Tax

$5 US Cash Mayan Ruin Park Fee

Staff Tips at end of trip ($50 recommended)

Alcoholic Beverages

Additional excursions & Spa Treatments

Bookings after December 1st (A 50% non-refundable deposit must be made by December 31st, Paid in full by February 28th):

Village Room Double: $1375 (MUST SIGN UP WITH A ROOMMATE)

Village Room Single: $1475

Triple Occupancy Partial Sea/Garden View Cabana: $1625

Double Occupancy Partial Sea/Garden View Cabana: $1725

Single Occupancy Partial Sea/Garden View Cabana: $2225 SOLD OUT

Triple Occupancy Sea Front Cabana: $1650 SOLD OUT

Double Occupancy Sea Front Cabana: $1825 SOLD OUT

Single Occupancy Sea Front Cabana: $2425SOLD OUT

Room Descriptions:

Thatched Cabanas (Private Bath): All have full or partial sea view, within the gardens, and a killer breeze. Each Cabana will house 1-3 guests max comfortably. The cabanas have amazing outdoor showers, private front porches, hammocks, and a hot and cold water dispenser with a mini fridge.

Village Rooms (Shared Bath): Welcome to community living on the lagoon! This building houses several private rooms with beautiful garden views. Guests can choose between 2 twins or 1 queen bed. There are two large island-chic shared bath and shower rooms, and 2 community lounging areas overlooking the lagoon. Great for sunsets and bird watching, you might even spot a croc or two.

To register email aprildechagas@gmail.com. Payments can be made by check or Venmo (no charge if bank or debit account used). There will be a 3% charge for credit card transactions (Venmo/PayPal).

“When we want to understand something, we cannot just stand outside and observe it. We have to enter deeply into it and be one with it in order to really understand. If we want to understand a person, we have to feel their feelings, suffer their sufferings, and enjoy their joy.

If we are concerned with peace and want to understand another country, we can’t just stand outside and observe. We have to be one with a citizen of that country in order to understand her feelings, perceptions, and mental formations. Any meaningful work for peace must follow the principal of non-duality, the principal of comprehension [and respect]. This is our peace practice: to comprehend, to be one with, in order to really understand.”

Introducing a new App that connects yoga teachers to students throughout NYC! I am now teaching a weekly class through BigToe Yoga in Bed-Stuy at Aspire2Dance. This weekly class will be a bit different from the other classes I teach – each week will be more of a workshop where we work through a specific pose. There will be some vinyasa involved to warm up, but a majority of the 1 hour & 15 minute class will be focusing on a specific pose.

This past Sunday, September 21st, 2014, I joined 400,00 others in the People’s Climate March in NYC. It was the largest of it’s kind, and amazing that so many people care about the future of this Earth we live on. Unfortunately, it was covered by only one news network, and only for about 23 seconds.

People’s Climate March 2014

One of the reasons for the lack of coverage is very same reason why I marched: our major “environmental” organizations, like GreenPeace, 350.org, etc., refuse to acknowledge the biggest cause of our environmental decline: the animal agriculture industry. The farming industry in the United States essentially runs our government. This industry has so much power in our country, that even high profile people like former Vice-President Al Gore, are afraid to talk about it. In fact, animal rights and environmental activists are the #1 offenders on the FBI watch list, rather than the actual bad guys.

It is estimated that at the rate our population is growing and the amount our word eats animal based food, we will only be around another 50 years or so. In 50 years I will be 84…I’d like to see the world last a bit longer than that! The farming industry is not only affecting the air and water we need to survive, but also killing off our natural wildlife. If you get excited when you see a fox or bear while on a hike, you better take advantage of it now, because natural wildlife won’t be here much longer.

There are a few things you can do:

The first is to educate yourself: watch the movie Cowspiracy. The movie highlights the fact that the largest cause of environmental decline is being hidden by all major environmental organizations, and our government. You can learn more about it here: http://cowspiracy.com/.

#2: Eat a plant based diet. It is completely possible to live a healthy, happy life on a vegan diet. Even if you are pregnant and/or raising children. Milk produced by cows is for their calfs to grow up into big strong cows! And if you love ice cream and cheese, you can get amazing tasting nut based ice cream or tapioca based cheese – it tastes the same, I swear! And you don’t even have to eat soy if you don’t want to! Sharon Gannon, co-founder of Jivamukti Yoga School, just released a new cook book called Simple Recipes for Joy. There are over 200 vegan recipes in the book, even things like meatballs and spaghetti and manhattan clam chowder! I happened to have helped make the food in pictures in the book and tested recipes before publishing! You can order it here: Simple Recipes for Joy

Please feel free to comment or ask questions. Here are some facts that are posted on the Cowspiracy website, all completely research based. I have a copy of the Cowspiracy movie if you are in the NY area and want to borrow it.

LOVE, PEACE & VEGETABLES!

FACT CHECK

Director’s Note:

The science and research done on the true impacts of animal agriculture is always growing. The statistics used in the film were based off the information below.

We will continually update this list with further resources as they become available.

Although there may be fluctuations in numbers from year to year and from researcher to researcher, the fact remains that animal agriculture, as a whole, requires tremendous amounts of resources and is a leader in environmental degradation.

Animal agriculture is responsible for 51 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than all transportation combined. [i]

Growing feed crops for livestock consumes 56% of water in the US.

Jacobson, Michael F. “More and Cleaner Water.” In Six Arguments for a Greener Diet: How a More Plant-based Diet Could save Your Health and the Environment.
Washington, DC: Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2006.

1,000 gallons of water are required to produce 1 gallon of milk.

5% of water in the US is used by private homes.
55% of water in the US is used for animal agriculture.

Jacobson, Michael F. “More and Cleaner Water.” In Six Arguments for a Greener Diet: How a More Plant-based Diet Could save Your Health and the Environment. Washington, DC: Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2006.

Every minute, 7 million pounds of excrement are produced by animals raised for food in the US.
This doesn’t include the animals raised outside of USDA jurisdiction or in backyards, or the billions of fish raised in aquaculture settings in the US. [v]

When you are asked to set an intention in the beginning of a yoga class, it is more than just setting a goal. A goal comes with a sense of achievement, or a sense of failure…

When you set an intention, it is something bigger. Something larger than for your small self. Something for the greater good of the world. Like when we chant Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu – may all beings (human beings, animal beings, plant beings, even green beings…all beings) be happy and free. And may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute to that happiness and freedom for all. Or setting an intention of the attainment of yoga – enlightenment – for all beings. Every ounce of your being is dedicated to that intention. You take ownership of your thoughts, words and actions when you release them into the world.

Your intention is similar to a seed. If you hold onto that seed, nothing will happen to it. But if you plant that seed, it will turn into a flower, and then a tree, and then that tree will bear fruit, and that fruit will feed other beings, and more seeds will be born. And similar to how nature will just take over and flourish, once you set your intention, the universe will take over. There is no need to worry about it – let nature take its course and trust that if you truly believe, truly believe , in your intention, it will be. When you release your intention out into the world, it will spread. If you treat yourself and others as a holy being, others in turn will do the same. Happiness and freedom will eventually spread like wild flowers. And it starts with your intention.

I leave you with a quote from Osho that I thought fit quite nicely with this sentiment…

“The seed cannot know what is going to happen, the seed has never known the flower. And the seed cannot even believe that he has the potentiality to become a beautiful flower. Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, nothing is guaranteed.
Nothing can be guaranteed. Thousand and one are the hazards of the journey, many are the pitfalls – and the seed is secure, hidden inside a hard core. But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, it starts moving. Immediately the fight starts: the struggle with the soil, with the stones, with the rocks. And the seed was very hard and the sprout will be very, very soft and dangers will be many.
There was no danger for the seed, the seed could have survived for millennia, but for the sprout many are the dangers. But the sprout starts towards the unknown, towards the sun, towards the source of light, not knowing where, not knowing why. Great is the cross to be carried, but a dream possesses the seed and the seed moves.”

“Magic is a shift in perception.” – Sharon Gannon

As many of you know, I spent this past month at Jivamukti Yoga’s teacher training at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. The experience was almost indescribable; other than to say it was absolutely beautiful, perfect in every way, and definitely magical (in every sense of the word.)

I kept a journal of some thoughts/experiences I had while at Omega – some to do with the training, some about the enchanting surroundings of Omega, but really just one or two lines of something that happened on that day. Some entries more exciting than others, but all meaningful in some way.

♥Love and blessings to Sharon-ji, David-ji, Lady Ruth, Emma-ji, Gayatri, Tina, Tomo and Petros for sharing your knowledge and love, and for making what I already thought was going to be an incredible month even more incredible than I could have ever imagined. Also a special thank you to Tamar-ji – although you weren’t physically there, you were with me every step of the way ♥

Day 1

So much nervous energy! During intros tonight, Sharon gave my cookies a shout-out! I wasn’t even going to mention them! I was touched by everyone’s intro, and sometimes surprised. So very excited to start this journey 🙂

Day 2

My assist from Lady Ruth today was a pat on the head 🙂

Emma asked me to lead om-ing in our mentor group meeting today ॐ

Ruth demo-ed a shavasana assist on Sharon. It was beautiful to watch. Sharon looked like an angel ♥

Day 3

Everyone keeps telling me how great I look in bright colors – Jiva should rethink the black uniforms…Sharon gave me an amazing assist in crow pose; I really need to get this “ribs in” thing down – so difficult when you are upside down! I was dreading the kriya lecture, but neti-ing really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I kind of liked it…

Day 4

During our lecture today, Sharon said that if I were a dog, I would be a Pekingese

Day 5

Partnered with Lady Ruth during our afternoon practical for the Warrior II assist 🙂 Sharon-ji showed me an assist afterwards, and I got to practice it on Petros. Woah.

Day 6

IT’S SANSKRIT DAY!

Day 7

Manorama asked me to chant for her, and told me she was touched by my practice ♥

Day 8

Ruth’s eyes are magical.

Day 9

So happy I read the Hatha Yoga Pradipika before coming here…

Day 10

Feeling like I can really do this. Each day I am here I want it more and more.

Day 11

Actually enjoyed taking the midterm (I know, I am a super-nerd).

I was invited to Sharon-ji and David-ji’s table at lunch, and David turns to me and says, “So, I’ve heard you memorized Samadhi Pada. Why not the rest of it?” Oy…

Radanath Swami appeared on stage as we came out of shavasana in the chakra tuning class. What an amazingly perfect ending to a beautifully powerful class.

May 4th – Day off (kind of)

May 5th – Day off (kind of)

I helped build the altar for the next day ♥

Day 14

IT’S SUTRA DAY!

Day 15

I was using a block during standing spinal twist and Petros came over to give me an assist. He asked if something hurt me if I didn’t use the block. When I answered no, he took the block and literally threw it away. Literally. Threw it. Guess I don’t need a block in standing spinal twist…

Day 16

The field is covered in fog and the sunlight shining through the trees and fog is breathtaking.

Day off

First truly rainy day we have had since being here. I am enjoying it 🙂

Day 17

During walking meditation in the woods, there were these tiny orange lizards scurrying around. They were beautiful and blended in with the leaves covering the earth. I thought lizards only lived in warm climates, and certainly never thought of them being in NY. So happy I’ve discovered them!

Sandhi came into full fire-fly on my hips while I was in half-wheel, and then Emma decided to lie over me while I was in full-wheel. There must be something about my hips today…

This afternoon I watched a rabbit eating dinner. It would methodically bite dandelions from the bottom of the stalk and slowly pull the rest in it’s mouth. Then I felt like I was being rude by staring, and went back inside.

Day 18

Any knowledge I had in my brain has oozed out of my ears, and I know nothing.

Bhumikas. Enough said.

Day 20

I’ve taught two full classes, and took the final. It’s really weird to not have to study tonight, but I get to enjoy the open class tomorrow stress free! I can’t believe this is almost over!

Day 21

Graduation day! When called up to receive my official certificate, I am introduced by Emma-ji as being “from” the Jivamuktea Cafe 🙂 While I’ve always been a part of the Jiva family, and often even confused for already being a teacher, I can now officially say I am a Jivamukti Yoga Teacher. YAY!

Join two of my favorite teachers, Monja Mani & Tamar Samir for this special event at Jivamukti Yoga School , taking place on Saturday, December 8th, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., to support women’s higher education in India. Suggested donation is $25. All levels are welcome.

In addition to what will definitely amount to an amazing yoga class, I will be providing some yummy vegan baked goods for the event! You don’t want to miss it!

About NIA – It all started over 10 years ago with a small, but timely donation that enabled one girl to realize her dreams through education. Her empowerment and success motivated Arun Mani, NIA’s founder and president, to continue this cycle of generosity. At the moment, NIA supports roughly 50-60 girls each year with their higher education in India. NIA believes that the best way to empower a young girl without means…